On April 22, 2025, Indian stock markets continued their upward trajectory, marking the sixth consecutive day of gains. The BSE Sensex rose by 187.09 points to close at 79,595.59, while the NSE Nifty 50 increased by 41.70 points, settling at 24,167.25 .
Banks Were the Big Winners
One of the main reasons for the market cheer was the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announcing steps to help banks with liquidity (which basically means giving them some breathing room with cash).
As a result, financial stocks saw significant gains:
- HDFC Bank shares rose by approximately 2%, becoming the third Indian company to reach a market capitalization of ₹15 lakh crore.
- Kotak Mahindra Bank gained 2.3%.
But not all banks were smiling. IndusInd Bank fell quite a bit after news came out about a second audit checking for a ₹600 crore mismatch in interest income. Not great news for them.
Metal Stocks Shine Amid Import Duties
Metal stocks rose by 1% after the government imposed temporary safeguard duties on certain steel imports to curb cheap shipments, primarily from China . This move is expected to protect domestic steel manufacturers and boost their profitability.
IT Sector Sees Mild Decline
The IT sector experienced a slight dip of 0.5%, following a more than 2% jump in the previous session . Investors appeared to be booking profits amid global uncertainties.
Broader Market Performance
Mid- and small-cap indices outperformed the benchmarks, each gaining approximately 1.1% . This indicates a broad-based rally, with investors showing confidence in a wide range of stocks beyond the large-cap segment.
Currency Market Update
The Indian rupee weakened slightly against the U.S. dollar, finishing at 85.1875 compared to the previous close of 85.1275. This decline mirrors a broader dip in Asian currencies, driven largely by a drop in the Chinese yuan amid market concerns about escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China .
